21st Signal Brigade

Mission

The 21st Signal Brigade conducts network operations for theater-based LandWarNet communication systems, networks, and enterprise services providing information services support to warfighters, intergovernmental, interagency and civil authorities to enable full spectrum operations.

 

The 21st Signal Brigade is a major subordinate command of the 7th Signal Command (Theater). The original 21st Signal Group was constituted on 22 June 1965 in the Regular Army as the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 21st Signal Group and activated on 1 September 1965 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The unit was headquartered at Nha Trang, South Vietnam and provided area signal communications support throughout 10,000 square miles of area I and II of the Corps tactical zones. The unit also saw action throughout thirteen campaigns during the Vietnam War and received the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The Unit went inactivated on 27 November 1971 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Then on 16 October 2003 the Unit was reactivated and designated the 21st Signal Brigade, headquartered at Fort Detrick, Maryland.
 

The 21st Signal Brigade’s mission is to provide Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) systems support to the President, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense, Combatant Commanders and other Federal Agencies. To establish, operate, protect, and sustain the Army's CONUS (Continental United States) strategic portion of the Global Information Grid. To protect and provide for the well-being of our people. The Brigade is headquartered at Fort Detrick, Maryland and has three subordinate battalions: the 114th Signal Battalion located at Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Adams County, Pennsylvania; the 302d Signal Battalion headquartered at Fort Detrick, Maryland; and the 56th Signal Battalion headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

History

The 21st Signal Brigade is a major subordinate command of the 7th Signal Command (Theater), Fort Gordon, Georgia. The original 21st Signal Group was constituted on 22 June 1965 in the Regular Army as the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 21st Signal Group and was activated on 1 September 1965 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 21st Signal Group provided area signal communications support throughout 10,000 square miles of the I and II Corps tactical zones in South Vietnam, participated in 13 campaigns during the Vietnam War from 1966-1971, and was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation (1966-1968). It was inactivated on 27 November 1971 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Effective 16 October 2003, the 1108th Signal Brigade at Fort Detrick, Maryland was re-designated the 21st Signal Brigade. In January 2010, Headquarters, Department of the Army awarded the 21st Signal Brigade the Army Superior Unit Award (2008-2009).

Leadership

 

Commander

21st Signal Brigade Fort Detrick, MD

COL John L. Sanders

 

 

 

 

 

Colonel John L. Sanders

Colonel John Sanders is a native of Portland, Oregon. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 2001 through a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Central Washington University following three years in the Army Reserves. He has a Baccalaureate in Geological Sciences and a Master of Arts in Information Technology Management from Webster University. COL Sanders entered active service as Signal Officer in 2001 where he was sent to the Signal Officer Basic Course (SOBC) at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

He has served in key leadership and staff positions including: Platoon leader 1-43rd Air Defense Artillery Battalion (PATRIOT) at Suwon Air Base, Battalion Communications Officer in 3-320th Field Artillery in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Iraq, Company Commander 501st Special Troops Battalion 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, and the Secretary of the General Staff for the United States Army Signal Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon. He also served as a Small Group Leader and Basic Officer Leader Course Manager at Fort Gordon, Chief of Operations for the 1st Signal Brigade in the Republic of Korea, Battalion Operations and Executive Officer for the 304th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary) in the Republic of Korea, the Branch Chief for Cyberspace Operations at the United States European Command Joint Cyberspace Center, Battalion Commander for the 63rd Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), and most recently the Signal Branch Chief at Human Resources Command.

His military education includes SOBC at Fort Gordon, Air Assault School Q-west in Iraq, Captains Career Course at Fort Gordon, Command and General Staff College at Fort Belvoir, Post-MEL 4 Interagency Fellowship, and Joint Combined Warfare School (JPME II) at the Joint Forces Staff College in Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads. He is currently and Army War College fellow to the University of Pittsburgh.

His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Air Assault Badge, and the German Efficiency Badge.
 

 

Command Sergeant Major

21st Signal Brigade Fort Detrick, MD

Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Thomas L. Bray

 

 

 

 

Command Sergeant Major Thomas L. Bray enlisted in the United States Army on November 14, 2000, and attended basic training at Fort Jackson, SC. He completed his Advanced Individual Training at Fort Meade, Maryland, and graduated as a 25M Multimedia Illustrator in May 2001.

He has served in every leadership position, from team leader to Battalion Command Sergeant Major his assignments include 55th Signal Company, Fort Meade, MD; United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base; The United States Army Signal Student Detachment, Fort Meade, MD; Visual Information Command, White House Communication Agency (WHCA), Washington DC; the Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE), Fort Meade, MD; Proponent Sergeant Major for the Office Chief of Signal, Fort Gordon, GA, and the 302d Signal Battalion, Fort Detrick, MD.

Command Sergeant Major Bray’s military and civilian education include all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System, and is a graduate of (USASMA CL69), Airborne Course, United States Army Drill Sergeant Course, First Sergeant Course, Combatives Level I, Combat Life Saver Course Instructor Training Course. He holds an Associate in Liberal Arts from Hillsborough Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Information System Management from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) as well as a Master's Degree in Cyber Security from UMUC, and a Doctorate’s Degree in Information System Management from the University of Phoenix. He has the Project Management Professional (PMP), Security (+), Network (+), Ethical Hacker, and the Adobe Creative Suite ASC Certifications.

CSM Bray’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Joint Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Joint Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (6th award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Presidential Service Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist badge. He is also the proud recipient of the Signal Corps Regimental Association’s Bronze Order of Mercury.

Command Sergeant Major Bray’s deployments include Operation Joint Guardian, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Qatar.

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

21st Signal Brigade Fort Detrick, MD

Mr. Jason M. Winterle

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Winterle joined the 21st Signal Brigade team in November of 2022 following over 27 years of comprehensive experience in information technology, communications systems, and cyberspace operations. His experience includes serving as the Commander’s Action Group (CAG) lead for JFHQ-Department of Defense Information Networks (JFHQ-DODIN) and the director of the CAG at USCYBERCOM. He also served as Director of Operations at DISAPAC, serving as the technical expert on all telecommunications, information technology, and services management matters in the USINDOPACOM AOR, to include networks, systems and service, execution of Network Operations (NETOPS) and information assurance.

Mr. Winterle is a former Battalion Commander/CIO of the 114th Signal Battalion, Raven Rock Mountain Complex, the organization responsible for all communications and IT support to The President, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, DoD, and other federal agencies located at RRMC, the primary backup facility for The Pentagon. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Case Western Reserve University, and a Master's Degree in Information Systems from University of Maryland Global Campus.
Mr. Winterle is married to Dr. Kyla Newbould and has three children.